Webb Takes Oath As Second Judge Former Carbon District Attorney Promises `Fairness And Justice'

January 07, 1992|by TYRA BRADEN, The Morning Call

Amid applause and cheers, Richard W. Webb etched his name in history yesterday when he took his seat as Carbon County's second judge.

"As the judge, I can only promise you one thing," Webb told the standing-room crowd in the courtroom. "That I will discharge my duties with diligence and fidelity, that the people who come before me will be treated with fairness and justice and that I will decide matters ... according to the law. That promise I make, and that promise I will keep."

Webb, 44, of Palmerton was the county's district attorney for 16 years. He announced last January that he would seek the county's second judgeship, created by the state Legislature in 1990. A Democrat, Webb soundly defeated his Republican opponent, Lehighton lawyer William G. Schwab.

Judge Albert H. Heimbach, who served as Carbon's president judge from 1960 until his retirement in 1978, when John P. Lavelle took over, administered the oath of office to Webb. Heimbach, formerly of Palmerton, lives in State College.

Heimbach said he has known Webb since Webb was an infant. Heimbach also said he knew Webb's father, the late Palmerton lawyer Sidney Webb, well. Sidney Webb, he said, "had great expectations" for his son.

When Webb began his tenure as district attorney, in 1976, Heimbach administered the oath of office.

"I knew that he would be an excellent district attorney," Heimbach said. "He would do his job well. In my opinion, he is one of the best district attorneys that not only Carbon County" had, but has few peers statewide who could "surpass his performance."

"I can't think of any qualifications (Webb) lacks," Heimbach said.

Lavelle said that Webb, who served as a public defender before taking on the DA job, has "served splendidly the goal of our judicial system, that is, to render justice for all. He is well-versed in the law."

With the ever-increasing legal caseload, Lavelle said he is pleased Carbon County is "leaving the dwindling ranks of the one-judge counties."

Lavelle said he requested a second judgeship to help keep the caseload current. He said state Rep. Keith McCall, D-122nd District, responded to the call for help and "was instrumental in the passing of the second judge bill."

When Webb was called to the bench to take his oath, he was accompanied by his wife, Janet, and their sons, Richard Jr. and Thomas. Mrs. Webb held the Bible and later helped her husband into his robe.

Webb took his seat beside Lavelle and said he was grateful for praises of Lavelle and Heimbach.

But he said his heartfelt thanks went to his wife, stepmother and two aunts.

"They say behind every great man there is a great woman," he said. "As you can see in my case, there a lot of women."

But the laughter stopped when Webb offered thanks to a group of people not in the courtroom.

"My mother," he said, pausing for several moments and brushing away tears. "My father, who practiced in this courtroom for many years and my grandmother, who must have been a saint. These people may not be here in body, but I'm sure they're here in spirit."

Following the ceremony, Webb said his mother died 26 years ago yesterday.

"It's irony," he said. "You think about that, and it gets to you."

Webb will leave this morning for a judicial training program at Plymouth Meeting. The school is mandated by the state Supreme Court. Webb said all new judges will attend classes and lectures dealing with current legal issues and court procedures.

He will return to the bench Jan. 15.

"I will try to live up to the very kind comments made by both Judge Heimbach and President Judge Lavelle," he said. "I've had the pleasure of working before both men throughout my legal career. Like a new recruit in any job, I'm anxious to get started."